Piezoelectric crystal holder



Sept- 15, 1942. E. N. FRIDGEN 2,295,990

PIEZO ELECTRIC CRYSTAL HOLDER Fiied oct. 15, 1941 INVENTOR EDWARD N. FRIDGEN Patented Sept. 15, 1942 Edward N. Friezen,

, Pa.. animar, by

Harrisburg A mesne nts, to Alvie Briton Hendricks,

MiilllalLPa.

Application October 13, 1941, Serial No. 414,709

6 Claims. (Cl. 171-327) This invention relates to piezoelectric devices and is more particularly concerned with an improved piezo-electric crystal holder.

It is an object of this invention to provide a piezo-electric crystal holder for an oscillator which can afford a mounting for use in any position and one which at the same time is not affected by temperature or atmospheric conditions, or by conditions caused by use such as jolts, Jars and vibrations. 'I'he holder of this invention provides a means for mounting the crystal in a standard crystal-holder in such a manner that the crystal is simple to prepare and manufacture and may be completed without the expenditure of a large amount of time and money and without alarge investment in equipment.

In the past, most crystal holders for piezoelectric purposes have not protected the crystal from vibrations or sudden jars or from humidity when in use. Where the crystal oscillator is mounted in a moving` vehicle or object subject to vibration or sudden movement, the jars or vibrations are likely to cause change in frequencies by changing the position of the electrodes in association with the crystal or even to break the crystal. In the same way crystal operation may be affected by temperature or atmospheric changes, and its efficiency has been reduced by ingl the crystal element Il is mounted in spaced position between a pair of electrodes il. In order to maintain the electrodes in spaced position, feet I2, or offsets, areprossed into the surfaces of the electrodes, preferably at points near the outer edges of said electrodes, in such a manner as to extend from the surface of the electrode from one one-thousandth to fifteen ten-thousandths of an inch. This provides for an air gap on each side of the quartz element, and thus aids in maximum eiliciency in operation of the element. The quartz element is then mounted between the two electrodes having the feet I2 facing the crystal, and the quartz element is thus maintained at a fixed distance from the surface cf the electrodesl as shown in Figure 3. After the quartz element and the electrodes have been ground to the desired frequency and tested for tmeperature coemcients, activity, etc., they are secured together by wrapping a sealing material i3, which is wrapped lengthwise the electrodes as shown in Figure 4. The crystal element and the electrodes arethussecuredasaunit,sothataconnector Il may be xed to each of the electrodes, preferably by soldering, as shown in Figure 3. Having fixed the connectors-in place, the whole unit'is then wrapped by the covering sealing material Ilsuch any such changes in conditions. Variation in the,

lthe crystal will be adversely affected. In the same way, moisture on the electrodes or the crystal slab may adversely atleet the operation of a piezo-electriccrystal oscillator. It'is one of the objects of this invention to provide a holder in which the crystal and the electrodes are protected from these conditions.

employed at higher 'Theare'thensealedupandtheunitis' as cellophane. cellulose tape, or other non-conducting material which will adhere tightly to the electrodes in such a manner as to provide one or two small openings I5 in the covering. il, in order that any air or moisture may be forced out. The unit is then heated to a temperature of not more than 90 C. and any moisture or air there present is forced out through said openings I5.

ready for mounting in the container II. `The connectorsare secured to the terminal plugs i`|` and molten sealing wax or other similar plastic For a better understanding of the invention,

reference is made to the drawingin which: Figurelisaplanviewwithpartsbroken showing the crystal holder;

Figure 2 is a slde elevational view partly in sec tion of the crystal holder; and Y y Flgure3isaviewofadetail; and f Figure4isanotherviewofadetail.

, In the form of the holder shown inthe drawmaterial Ilis poured around and over the unit.

to secure the unit to the container-and tol insureaperfectsealfortheunit. Afterthesealing materialhascooled-andhardenedthecover l isplacedinpositionontheholderandisheldin' placebythescrewsl.

Inthisformthecrystaloscillatormaybe" nlllasedinanydesiredpositiomormaybequickly andeasilychangedorremoved. 'I'hecrystiilunit may be operated under any atmospheric condi tions and moisture and heat or cold will haves minimum effecten the emciency of theoperation.

Testshavebeenrmadeofancillatorsoprepared hythe whole holder in water fora perbdofthirtyminntanditwasfoundthat the same way, salt spray has been found to have no effect on the operation of this oscillator. Similarly the oscillator so constructed has been subjected to temperatures as low as 40 beiow zero, centigrade, without any change in the operation of the crystal. A standard crystal and holder when subjected to such freezing temperature will be adversely aiected in its operation due to ice formation on the electrodes. Similarly when subjected to higher temperatures as high as 70 C., no ill effects were noted on the frequency or activity.

In the general use of crystal oscillators, they are subjected to a great deal of vibrations and sudden jars, and in many cases asudden jar or vibration will change the operation of the unit by causing a change in the position of the electrodes in relationship to the crystal element. The holder of this invention will withstand 'jars or vibrations without loss of eillciency, and by tests made on the device, a drop of ten feet upon a hard surface, although repeated ten or more times, failed to indicateany changes in the operation. This feature in the construction of the holder is especially important where the device will be employed in vehicles such as planes, tanks, trucks, etc. I

Since the holder of this invention has plug-in terminals it may be used in any position or may be removed or changed quickly and easily without any delayV to interrupt service in which it is being employed.. 1

I claim: r

l. A'hlder for a piezoelectric crystal resonator, comprising a holder, a'crystal element spaced between a pair of electrodes and connectors on the electrodes, said crystal and the electrodes being hermetically sealed together, and secured in a iixed position in the holder.

l2. A holder foia. piezoelectric crystal resonator, comprising an element oi crystal spaced between a pair of metallic electrodes, said crystal and the electrodes being enclosed within a moisture-proof covering, connectors on the electrodes, the electrodes and the crystal within the sealed covering being secured in a holder by means of a sealing and cushioning material.

3. A holder for a piezoelectrical crystal resonator comprising an element of crystal spaced between a pair oi' metallic electrodes, the spacing of the electrodes being by means of a plurality oi' ieet pressed into the electrodes and protruding from the sides next'to the crystal, the crystal and the electrodes being hermetically sealed with; in an envelope, and being secured in a iixed position in the holder.

4. A piezoelectric crystal holder comprising a crystal element spaced between a pair of electrodes, said element and the electrodes being hermeticaily sealed within an envelope, and being secured in a holder having a plurality oi.' terminal plugs, the electrodes andthe terminal plugs being connected.

5. A method of mounting a piezoelectric crystal in a holder comprising the spacing oi' a crystal element between a pair of electrodes, enclosing the crystal element and the electrodes within an envelope otv sealing material, heating the envelope to a temperature oi' not more than 90 C. for expelling the air and moisture within said envelope, hermetically sealing said envelope, and securing the envelope within the holder by applying a iluid sealing material.

6. The method or mounting a piezoelectric crystal in a holder comprising the mounting of a crystal element between spaced electrodes, amxing connectors to the electrodes, enclosing the crystal element and the electrodes within an envelope for sealing, heating said envelope t'o expel the air and moisture within, sealing said envelope, and securing said envelope within the holder by means of a resilient sealing material, and a!- iixing the connectors to the terminals of the holder.

EDWARD N. FRIDGEN. 

